I've been in Japan for about 13 years. In that time I've met many wonderful people. Lots of nice Japanese people, and lots of good foreign people too. Since my foreign friends are also living far from home, we have a lot in common. We have all adapted (more or less successfully) to a new culture and we have all learned a lot. We've shared frustrations, achievements, joys, and tears.
Another thing we've all faced is having to say goodbye to dear friends who leave Japan to live and work in other foreign countries or to return home. The longer you are here, the more friends you have to say goodbye to. By the end of this year, I will have said goodbye to three good friends. Mark and his family, whom I've known for five years, returned to Australia in January. My good friend of four years, Toby, and his wife will go to England at the end of this month. And my best girlfriend, Justine, will move to Switzerland to teach at the Kumon International Academy in August.
It's something you come to expect, but it never really gets any easier to say goodbye. The good news is that now I have three more places to stay in the world: Sydney, Australia; Bogner Regis, England; and Leysin, Switzerland... No wonder I can never save any money!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
17 comments:
The accompaniments of encounter are joy and sorrow.
I have said goodbye to many people.
I had many sad experiences, but it has also means that I have a chance to meet them again!
I hope you can meet your friends again someday!!
Chinami
I truly understand how you feel.
I have had same experiences in my life, too. At the same time, I still keep in touch with some people like my roommate from our university in Oregon.
It's always good to have friends overseas.
Thanks for your comments. They are encouraging.
We may meet only to part. My friend's daughter, who graduated from Ferris,now works for Kumon International Academy in Switzerland.She teaches Japanese there.
It is sad to say good bye to people, but I think it expands possibilities to meet new people.
I hope you will have chance to meet them again!
i think having a friends in the country that living abroad is reassuring! but i felt the same way that of saying good bye to my friends in australia was sooooo sad... but i really think im lucky to have another place to visit when i goes to foreign country. i thought good bye is not the end. its the another start.
mari
I know your feeling.
I felt sad when I read your article. I hope you can see your friends again!
Natsumi
Having to say good-bye is a sad thing...yes....but someday you can meet them again!
it's always hard to say goodbye to friends.
when i moved to here, i said good bye to my friends and also to my family.I was so sad, but now, i have new friends and i'm happy to be here! i'm sure you can meet new people who will be said one of the best friend.
hikaru
I have experienced to say good-bye many times...
Every I said, I am sad...
But, I believe that we can meet again!!!
So I can keep my feeling!!
btw...I'm sad to leave japan now...
I don't have any friends who live in abroad, but I feel same fellung when I must say goodbye to friends.
It's sad to say goodbye to our friends. I lived in England when I was 3 and 4 years old, and when I went back Japan, I cried very much.
We should keep making contact with our friends if we separate from them.
That is so sad.
However, you can remember the great memories with your friends.
They will encourage you.
It's enviable thing for me to have many foreign friends! I think saying good-bye is a hard thing too, but when you visit them again, you can feel pleasure.
i think surely you will meet them again!!
i have a person i want to meet again.
its sad thing.
i had same feeling when i leave USA...
i want to meet my driends again too!
shino
Post a Comment